Tesla

Makes electric cars, robotaxis and grid batteries

Mechanical Design Engineer - Studio Prototyping

Design EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeHawthorne, CA, USANo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience is required.
At least 3 years of experience in a product development environment, including hands-on experience designing and assembling hardware.
A maker mindset and willingness to both design and build are required.
Proficiency in CATIA, 3DEXPERIENCE, or RHINO for part design, large assemblies, and surfacing is required.
Broad knowledge of rapid prototyping methods for metals, polymers, and composites is required.
Experience designing and assembling electromechanical systems, including mechanisms, actuators, structures, and interfaces, is required.
Understanding of GD&T sufficient to release prototype drawings is required.
The candidate must communicate effectively, be resourceful, and manage time mindfully.

Responsibilities

Own the path from design data to a built assembly by interpreting 3DX, CATIA, and design-surface models and turning them into prototype parts and mechanisms that hold design intent.
Design, release, and hands-on assemble bucks, seating and interior properties, exterior properties, and appearance models used to judge proportion, craftsmanship, ergonomics, and motion.
Design structures, mounts, linkages, and actuated assemblies for new EV programs and Optimus; define constraints when initial requirements are ambiguous and prove the design by building it.
Create build plans and secure in-house resources. Design for the process that meets the required date using 3D printing, CNC milling, waterjet, laser cutting, sheet metal, composites, and hand fabrication.
Work with machinists, fabricators, and technicians through fabrication, fit-up, and assembly.
Run short design-build-learn iterations with Design and engineering partners, protecting proportion and design while making assemblies buildable on a prototype schedule.
Release models, drawings, and work instructions for the shop, handle multiple properties at once, and show leadership how build decisions track to program milestones.

Desired Qualifications

Experience processing scan data and working with simple kinematics is preferred.

Category	Engineering & Information Technology
Location	Hawthorne, California
Requisition ID	288878
Type	Full-time

Job Description

Studio Prototyping turns digital design into real mechanical assemblies. The team takes surfaces, and early engineering intent and builds the properties, mechanisms, and electromechanical hardware that Design and Engineering can see, touch, and decide on. The work spans new EV programs, Optimus and other Tesla products, from a single part or tooling to a full interior buck, exterior property, or robot mechanism demonstrator. The team is small, highly motivated, and thrives in a rapid engineering environment. You will work daily with designers, digital modelers, clay modelers, studio integration, vehicle and robotics engineering, and fabricators, machinists, and composite technicians who build what you release. We move fast and still hold quality and accuracy. The goal is to represent the design accurately, long before downstream production exists. This is a mechanical design role. Product design skills and a first-principles approach are required. You must be able to balance tight deadlines with demanding design and engineering requirements, and keep a professional working relationship with designers, engineers, model makers, and suppliers. You must have a genuine passion for engineering the best EVs in the world.

Job Responsibilities

Digital to Physical – Own the path from design data to a built assembly. Interpret 3DX, CATIA, and design-surface models and turn them into prototype parts and mechanisms that hold design intent
Studio Properties – Design, release, and hands-on assemble bucks, seating and interior properties, exterior properties, and appearance models used to judge proportion, craftsmanship, ergonomics, and motion
Mechanisms & Assemblies – Design structures, mounts, linkages, and actuated assemblies for new EV programs and Optimus. Self-define constraints when the initial requirements are ambiguous, then prove the design by building it
Build Execution – Create build plans and secure in-house resources. Design for the process that hits the date: 3D printing, CNC milling, waterjet, laser cutting, sheet metal, composites, and hand fabrication
Shop Partnership – Work with machinists, fabricators, and technicians through fabrication, fit-up, and assembly
Iteration – Run short design-build-learn loops with Design and engineering partners. Protect proportion and design while making the assembly buildable on a prototype schedule
Documentation & Timing – Release models, drawings, and work instructions the shop can build from. Handle multiple properties at once and show leadership how build decisions track to program milestones

Job Requirements

Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
3+ years in a product development environment, with hands-on experience designing and assembling hardware
A maker mindset — willing to design it and willing to build it
Proficiency in CATIA / 3DEXPERIENCE / RHINO: part design, large assemblies, and surfacing. Processing scan data and simple kinematics is preferred
Broad knowledge of rapid prototyping methods for metals, polymers, and composites
Experience designing and assembling electromechanical systems — mechanisms, actuators, structures, and interfaces
Understanding of GD&T sufficient to release prototype drawings
Excellent communicator, resourceful, and mindful of time management

About the Company

Tesla

Makes electric cars, robotaxis and grid batteries

Tesla makes electric cars and batteries that store power for homes and utilities, and it develops self-driving software and humanoid robots. In 2023, its Model Y became the first electric vehicle to rank as the world's best-selling car. Buyers order the Model 3 sedan, Model Y SUV, or Cybertruck pickup directly from Tesla instead of through dealers, and they charge on its Supercharger fast-charging network. It also sells Megapack and Powerwall batteries, runs a robotaxi service, and charges drivers a monthly fee for self-driving software that still needs their supervision. Tesla was founded in 2003, with Elon Musk as its lead early investor and a recognized co-founder, and it is based in Austin, Texas.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Austin, TX
Founded: 2003

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